Bell'sTeacher-Contract Bill Remains on Ice

The keystone of Gov. Bob McDonnell's education reform — a bill to phase out open-ended contracts for teachers — seems stalled in the state Senate because of that body's impasse over a budget, the bill's sponsor, Del. Richard P. "Dickie" Bell, R-Staunton, said Tuesday.

"This time of year, it's always about the budget," Bell said, after the Senate decided, for the seventh day running, to skip a scheduled vote on the bill.